Well-tubing catcher.



T. H. HANRATTY.

WELL TQBING CATCHER. APPLICATION FJLED DEC.29. 1914.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

emu;

' when broken from falling to the bottom 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'THOMAs-H. HAN ATTY, or KARNS CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WELL-TUBING CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 9, 1915.

Application filed December 29, 1914. Serial No. 879,553.

To all whom it may concern:

the provision of a device of this character wherein the well tubing will be prevented of the well, and will be supported in a mannor to permit limited vibration'thereof dur-' ing the operation of the well.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the well tubing can be readily and easily removed from the well, as, well as- .capable of being lowered to the desired points within the well.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, reliable and eificient in use, and inexpensive in manufacture and installation.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the. construction, combination and arrangement of parts aswill be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out I in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a well tubing showing the device, constructed in accordance with the lnvention, applied. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33- of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line -4'4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. j

v Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several 'views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates the well, and B a portion of the well tubing having connected thereto near its lower end the catcher device C, here-.

inafter fully described.

The catcher device C comprises an inner tubular or cylindrical member 5' formed near one end thereof with an inverted L- I with.

shaped slot 6, while formed near the oppoi' site end therein is a transverse slot 7, the member 5 being arranged concentrically about the'well tubing B and has rotatably fitted thereon an outer member 8 which is held against longitudinal displacement on the member 5 through the medium of a lu'g 9, which projects into and works within the transverse slot 7 in the said member 5, while threaded on the lowermost end of this member 5 is a collar 10 which forms a bearing for the member 8, while telescoped upon the upper end of'the member 5 is an expanding head 11, the closed end 12 of which is apertured to receive the tubing B which is formed with spaced annularcollars 13 disposed on opposite sides of the closed end 12 of the head so that the latter is connected thereto, between the collars 13, yet the pi B is free for a vertical sliding movement through the head for a limited distance to allow for the vibration of the said pipe during the working of the well. The tubing B is formed exteriorly thereof I with a longitudinal key 18 which engages in. a 'keyway 19 formed in the closed end 12 of the'head 11 so that on the turning of the'tubing .B the head 11 will turn there- The member is formed with a plurality of resilient spreader arms 14, which are adapted to be acted'upon by the cone end 15 of the expander head 11 so that the same will be spread outwardly for engagement with the wall of the well A to hold the denear its lower end, the member 8 being fitted on its outer face with outwardly bowed leaf springs 16 which serve to guide the device in the well A for the centering of the tubing B therein.

" The expander head 11 carries a lug 17 which projects into and works within the.

' vice therein forsupporting the tubing B v inverted Lshaped slot 6, so that when the lug'17 is engaged in the horizontal branch of the said slot 6, the expander head 11- will v not drop and spread arm 14 while device is being lowered into well,.but guide springs 16 will keep d evice centered while allowing free movement in lowering or raising tubing.

After tubing catcher is lowered to proper position the tubing is rotated, member 8 being prevented from rotation by the frictional resistance of spring 16 against inner wall of well, member 11 rotating with tubing by means of key 18 engaged inkeyway 19 in closed end '12 of member 11. vWhen member 11 rotates to point where lug 17 enters vertical portion of slot 6, it drops by 5 gravity throwing outwardly spreader .arms

"14: by means of Wedge action of expanding head 11, thus locking tubing catcher firmly in position. v

'Should it be desired to remove tubing B from well A all that is necessary to'do is to pull tubing upward, the lower collar 13 engaging closed end 12 of expanding member 11, then releases arms 14.

i From the foregolng description, taken in 15 connection with the accompanying drawing,

it is thought that the construction and manner of use of the device will be clearly understood, and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted. What is claimed is 1. An apparatus of the class describedcomprising a tubular member having an inverted substantially L-shaped slot, a' spreading element mounted for limited rotary movementupon the tubular member and having a plurality of grab jaws, an expan 40 sion head mounted upon the tubularmember having allug'to engage in the slot for guiding said head for rotary and slidable movement longitudinally on the tubular member for "action upon the jaws to spread the same when the head is moved in one direction.

and means on theexpansion head for look ing the same when in one position.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a tubular member having an inverted substantially L-shaped slot, a spreading element mounted for limited rotary movement upon the tubular member and having a plurality of grab jaws, an expansion head mounted upon the tubular member having a lug to engage in the slot for guid- 5 5 ing said'head for rotary and slidable move- 'ment longitudinally on the tubular member for action upon the jaws to spread the same.

when the head is moved in one direction, means on the expansion head for locking the same when in one position, and resilient 1 means on the spreading element for engagement in a well tubing to guide the said spreading element therein.

4. .An apparatus 015 the class described comprising a tubular member having an inverted substantially L-shaped slot, a spreading element mounted for limited rotary movement upon thetubular member and having a plurality of grab jaws, an expansion head mounted upon the tubular member having a lug to engage in the slot for guid ing said head for rotary and slidable movement longitudinally on the tubular member for action upon the aws to spread the same when the head is moved in one direction, means on the expansion head for locking the same when in one position, resilient means on the-spreading element for engagement in a well tubing to guide the said spreading element therein, and means on the tubular member for preventing displacement longltudinally of the spreading element thereon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. HA n-ATTY. Witnesses:

HENRY F. GRAHAJlA i, WM. C. HooN. 

